Many neurodivergent people get funding from the UK Government for ADHD coaching through the Access to Work scheme.
At Mind Mates we can provide free 30 min 1-2-1 sessions to support ADHD folk (diagnosed or non-diagnosed) with applying for Access to Work funding that could be used to pay for coaching or other things to help you manage your ADHD better.
What is Access to Work?
Access to Work is a UK Government funding scheme for people with physical, mental or neurodivergent differences that means they need a bit of extra help to do their work or get to work. The idea is that it helps people to stay in work by funding the cost of that support.
What might I get from Access to Work?
Access to Work grants can fund lots of things. For neurodivergent folk, that might include;
Work equipment and tools
Ergonomic office equipment
Screens
Standing desks
Noise cancelling headphones
White or brown noise machines
Fidget toys
IT and electronic equipment
Mental health support
ADHD, autism, or other condition-specific coaching, Training and mentoring. This is what we provide at Mind Mates!
Support workers
Therapy (for example, CBT)
Software and Apps
Virtual assistant
Website and app blockers
Body doubling apps
Text-to-speech apps
Planning and time management tools
Mind mapping apps
Reminder tools
Task managers (like Trello or Asana)
Habit trackers
Job interviews and travel
Travel to and from interviews
Communication support during job interviews
Support with commuting
Stress and anxiety related things
Meditation apps like Headspace or Calm
Weighted blanket
SAD lamps/sunlight alarm clocks
Am I eligible?
It’s open to neurodivergent people, along with those living with physical disabilities and mental health conditions. You don’t need to have an official diagnosis to apply and receive the grant.
It doesn’t matter how many hours you work, how much you earn, where you work or whether you’re a freelancer, contractor or full-time employee.
To be eligible for Access to Work, you need to;
Have a physical or mental condition that means you need some assistance at work.
Be over 16 years old
Have a paying job of any kind (full-time, part-time, temp, internship, etc.) You can still apply if you’re self-employed or have an interview for a new, paying job.
Live and work in England, Scotland, or Wales. If you live in Northern Ireland there is a slightly different scheme which you can see here.
You can’t get Access to Work if you:
Work in the Civil Service.
Receive Incapacity Benefit, Employment and Support Allowance, Severe Disablement Allowance, Income Support or National Insurance credits.
What is the application process like?
This is a good question. At Mind Mates we know that filling in forms, making applications and following processes can be very challenging for ADHD people. We feel that the current process is not particularly “ADHD-friendly.” Even though it is reasonably straightforward as a process, we know that any sort of form-filling can be a huge barrier to some people even when they are capable and intelligent. Many ADHD folk will be able to overcome those barriers without support, but some may need some help. We can provide that help by working through the process with you.
The process is as follows;
Fill in a form online. This can take about 20 minutes. You will need to enter your name, contact details, and National Insurance number. Workplace details. Info on your condition and how it impacts your work. An idea of the kind of support you need (you can go into more detail when you speak to someone at a later stage). Details of someone at your job who can confirm you work there OR your Unique Taxpayer Reference number if you’re self-employed.
An Access to Work Case Manager will call you to discuss the application. They ask some questions about your condition, how it affects your ability to do your job, and the support you need to stay in work. They will also ask permission to speak to your employer (if applicable). There’s usually no need to provide medical evidence of your conditions or disabilities as long as you can accurately describe how they impact your work. They will go through some options for support with you and chat through the potential positive impact each one could have. If you’re not clear about what kind of support you need, or the adviser feels they need more information, they might arrange a workplace assessment for you. This can either be done remotely or in-person.
You will get a letter from the scheme telling you if you have been successful in your application, how much your award is and what you can spend it on.
Claiming and paying. If successful, you have 9 months to then claim your grant. Access to Work can pay you back for something, pay your employer back, or pay the supplier directly (you can speak about this with your adviser to work out the best option if you’re not sure).
If you’re self-employed, Access to Work will usually pay for the whole cost of your coach or equipment either by paying upfront or reimbursing you.
If you’re employed, your employer will generally pay upfront for any support you need (rather than you paying yourself), then claim it back from Access to Work. Depending on the size of the company, your employer may need to contribute.
What is the catch?
The time it takes to process. The time between applying and receiving a grant can vary but at the time of writing, it is around 37 weeks. More for self-employed applicants. The process is arguably NOT “ADHD-friendly”.The scheme is to help manage work-related ADHD issues only. So you need to keep your application work-focussed. However, we know that ADHD can affect things in all aspects of life, not just work!
Can I get help with my application?
Yes! We can do that! At Mind Mates we offer a free 30 minute session online to work through the application with you. Get in touch with us via the contact page and we will set up a session for you. If you get a grant for ADHD coaching/mentoring such as we provide, there is no obligation to spend any grant you receive with Mind Mates.